When Vera was 10, she met Selya, and extraordinary weaver. But when Selya suddenly disappears after Vera's brother proposes to her, only Vera has a clue of where she might be, but time is not on Vera's side.

A/N: Ok, I wrote this when I was really really bored. The
idea popped into my head during my English class, which was also boring. So,
please tell me what you think! I'm not sure if I should continue this or not.
So it really depends on my reviewers!

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She
sat, her golden head leaning against the side of her aged bedroom window. The
window was open, letting the spirit of the town into her home. The faint aroma
of freshly baked bread and other treats coming from the bakery, mingled with
the smell of fire and ash coming from the blacksmith shop irritated her perfect
little nose. Her thin, white fingers stroked her moth-eaten curtains in
impatience, as she waited for her brother to come home. He had been gone for a
long, long time, on a journey that was tradition in her isolated little town.
Alaric was old enough to marry, and in order for him to win his fair lady's
heart, he would have to go on a quest. None but the council of the town knew
what had to be done in the journey, and for years, Vera, along with her older
sister Cynna, watched young men go off on the journey. And always, some men
never returned.

Vera was certain that Alaric
would come home. He had to come home and make mother and father proud. It never
occurred to her that the majority of the citizens of the town hoped so too, for
Alaric was a fine young man indeed. In fact, all of the children of the
peasant-like Avelyn and Leod were considered to be the most beautiful children
in the town. Fifteen-year-old Cynna was tall, and slender. A river of golden
hair on her head. Her eyes were green as the pastures in spring, and she danced
with such light feet, that some wondered if she had fairy blood in her. Vera's
older brother, Alaric, was twenty, with a tall, slim body, and hair the color
of wheat. He was strong, but gentle, smart and spirited, skilled and
resourceful. All the maidens in the town admired him, but his heart belonged to
Vera's friend, Selya.

Vera met Selya nearly a year
ago. She was out in town, on an errand for her employer, when she bumped into
Selya on the street. She learned that day that Selya had just arrived from
across the sea, and was looking for a job as a weaver, an occupation Vera had
always dreamed of having. When Selya learned of Vera's deep desire to learn to
weave, she decided to tutor the young girl, instead of officially becoming a
weaver of the town. It was when Vera brought Selya home, did Alaric for the
first time; see what true beauty was like.

The reaction between him and Selya
were almost impossible to miss, and Vera was happy for both of them, which was
why she waited anxiously for Alaric's return. Selya was out in the meadows at
the time, picking flowers that would make good dye. Vera glanced over at her
first tapestry. It was still in process, but she was happy that it was turning
out better than she had dreamed.

A couple of young men had
already returned from their journey that day, causing Vera to believe that her
brother would come soon after. So she continued to lean her head against her
open window, breathing the familiar smell of the town through her perfect
little nose.

A sudden 'thud' from behind
caused her to take her eyes off the street below. "Oh, sorry," came a gentle
voice. Vera at last left her spot by her window and knelt down to pick up the
spool of thread that had fallen on the floor.

"Don't worry about it, Selya,"
she replied.

"Shall we continue with your
work?" Selya asked.

"Actually, I was wondering if we
could put it off for a while. I am not really in the mood for weaving. What
have you gathered?" Selya looked down at her basket full of blue flowers, and
laughed merrily.

"I was gathering blue for your
tapestry," she said. "I was hoping it would be done by the time Alaric comes
home."

"He's coming home today," Vera
replied. "I can't finish it by then."

"You know that not everyone
comes at the same time," Selya said, a little dismayed. "Alaric might not come
back until next week or the week after."

"I don't understand how you can
be so calm about it," Vera replied, feeling slightly bitter at Selya's company.
"He's going through that journey for you, and you know it. Why aren't you proud
of him?"

"Because I don't need him to go
through a long, perilous, trip through the different lands of this earth to
prove his love to me. I would be far more than content without him going on
such a journey. What does a journey even prove?" Vera sighed and sat down in a
withered old stool. She rested her perfect chin in her white palm and looked at
Selya.

"It proves his love for you,"
she said. "You haven't seen these traditions as long as I have. They are far
more complex than how you think them to be."

"But you are only a ten year old
girl. You may see such events in a different way. And why must one go through
danger and evil to prove a love? Isn't it enough to take the chance at all?"
Vera always admired the way Selya spoke. She did not speak like one from their
town. Her voice was always pleasant to the ear and her thoughts and questions
were always more intricate than any others, just like the tapestries she wove.

"It is not considered good
enough in my society," said Vera. "But you are free to think what you want. You
do not think like us though. We always need proof for things." Selya removed
her lavender cloak, which Vera had carried many times for her. The cloak was as
softer than a rabbit's fur, and embroidered on it was a dream of moons and
stars. Selya always had the most interesting things. She sat before the loom
and stared at the unfinished tapestry, her dark brows wrinkled on her
sun-kissed face. Her raven hair fell down her back, shining in the pale sunlight.

"What did you plan on doing with
your tapestry?" she asked. Vera got up from her stool and stood beside her
friend. "It looks as though you planned on doing the meadow by the stream, but
only half of it is there. Why?"

"The meadow is where couples are
wed. I wanted to add you and Alaric into it. I was planning on giving it to you
as a wedding gift." Selya smiled, her honey colored eyes reflecting the light.

"You are a wonderful girl, Vera,"
she said. "And a great friend too." Selya's smile vanished, and she left the
loom. "If Alaric does come back, send him to my house in the woods by the
creek. I will be there waiting for him."

"Why must you leave?"

"I need to do something. Don't
worry though, Vera. We will work on your tapestry as soon as possible." She
patted Vera's head gently before draping her cloak around her shoulders and
briskly walking down the stairs and outside into the street.

Vera walked over to her window
and stuck her head out to watch her friend leave, and in the midst of the
bland, ordinary crowd, she saw Selya's lavender cloak, sticking out like a
yellow daisy in a green field.

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A/N:
Well, that's all I have so far. The title may change, depending on what may
happen in the story. Please review!

The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.